Train-pipe end valve



Sept. 27, 1927.

E. H. GOLD TRAIN PIPE END VALVE Filed Sept. '7..1926 2 Sheets-Smet lPatented Sept. 27, 1927.

entran, stares EGBERT H. GOLD, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

TRAIN-PIPE Application filed September This invention relates toimprovements train pipe on each car -is provided with an end train pipevalve, these valves at the adjacent ends of the two cars being normallyopen when the cars'are included in a train and the steam couplings areconnected in place. Only the end train pipe valve at the rear end` ofthe train vwill be closed. y

As the entire train line and connections are exposed to the weather, itknaturally follows that considerable condensation takes place therein,and most oi' this condensate can only escape at the rear of the trainline.

This condensation, ii it is not allowed todischarge at the rear as fastas it collects, Awill quickly 'lreeze up and cause very serious trouble'in cold weather. However, it the steam pressure is maintained on thetrain line all the way tothe rear and the rear train pipe valve allowedto bleed a little steam through the rear hose, that is allow smallstream of steam to continuously escape, this common trouble will beavoided.

lv'hen the steam couplings between adjacent cars are connected, theworkman standing adjacent the valves may move them to open position.However, it is sometimes desirable to open these valves from theplatform above, for example, when steam is to be cut oli' from theentire train line, at which time the rear train pipe valve is openedwide to blow out the train line and allow all steam to escape. Y

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved form ofend train pipe valve adapted to perform in a more satisfactory mannerthe functions noted hereinabove. The usual form of train 'pipe end valveis adapted to be ymounted at the eX- treme end of the car train pipe,and is provided with an inlet connection adapted to be joinedhorizontally to the end of the'train pipe, and an outlet connectionthrough the lower portion of the valve casing adapted to connect withthe coupling hose or equivalent END VALVE.

7, 1926. Serial No. 133,982.

fiexible coupling. The present type of end trainpipe valve is adapted tobe inserted in ythe car train pipe at `some small distance from the endof the pipe, and is provided with horizontally aligned inlet and outletports at its two sides, with which the ad- ]acent sections ot' the cartrain pipe areconnected. A valve seat is provided in the casing in linewith the outlet port, and a diskshaped valve member is slidable edgewisevertically, similar to a. gate-valve, to orv from a position inengagement with the valve seat to close the valves. Guides areprovidedin the valve casing for this slidable valve member. The valvemember is freely rotatable about its own aXis `so that it may seatcorrectly, and it is held seated by the steam pressure in the valvecasing.

Another object is to provide a plurality oia bleeding valves or ports inthe valve members, all of whichare normally closed by the valve seatwhen the valve member is in valve closing position, butv one only ofthese ports being opened to vpermit the passage of a small stream ofsteam when the valve member is moved slightly from its completely closedpositioinbut not moved suiiiciently to open the mainvalve.

Another object is to provide improved means for moving this slidablevalve member into or out of valve closing position, and for locking thesame in open position.

Another object is to provide improved means for counter-balancing thevalve member, so that it will remain in any partially open position toywhich it'may be moved.

Another object is to provide a valveroi this type which is compact andsimple, and easily assembled.

Othervvobjects and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromtheA following detailed description of one approved form of theapparatus.

in the accompanying drawings:

the valve, the view being taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4Q

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on the line2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the lino ot Fig. 4is an end elevation, taken in liney with the car train pipe.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable valve member.

The end of the main portion of the car Fig. 1 is a vertical centralsection through train pipe is shown at 1, and 2 is a short ei;-

. tension of this car train pipe leading from lll the end train pipevalve 3 to the flexible cou- 'pling member for making; connections withan adjacent car. The main valve casing 3 is provided with aligned inletand outletV ports l and 5, the pipe extension 2 screwing1 directly intothe outlet port 5, and the car train pipe 1 being` connected with inletport l by means of the interposed bushing," 6.1 Casing,` 3 `comprises anupwardly projected extension 7 closed at the top by a screw cap S. Thisextension provides for the movement of the valve member out of valveclosing position, and the removable cap 8 perinits the insertion orremoval of the movable casing extension 9 provides a secondibearing` forthe shaft 11. The stuffing," boi: 16

screwed into' the bonnet lll provides further bearing surfaces for theshaft 11 and also adjustably holds in place the pac-king 17` forpreventingl the escape of steam around the Shaft.

' The annular valve seat 18 is screwed into the inner end of the outletpassage The movable valve member 1,9 is slidable vertically, like agate-valve, along,` the guides provided in the valve casing 3. Thisvalve member 19 comprises a pair of circular plates or disks 21 and 21a,connected in parallel spaced relation by the axial stem 22. The largerdisk 21a is merelya guide niember and is provided with a series(if-relatively large openings 23 so as not to materially impede thepassage of steam therethrough at any time. rlhe valve plate 21 isadapted to seat against the valve seat 15.-?, when in the position showninthe drawings, and completely closes the outlet port 5. The valve plate21 is provided with a plurality preferably 4l. as here shown) of smallbleeding; ports 2l, equally spaced about the peripheral portion of thecircular plate. When the valve is closed, as shown in the drawings,

these bleeding` ports will all be Closed by the valve seat' 18. lf,however, the movable valve member is raised slightly from the positionshown, fbut not suflicient to completely unseat any portion of the valveplate 2l, some one of these bleeding` ports will be uncovered so as topermit the passage of a small stream of steam through the valve. At thistime, tlie"other bleeding ports 2l will re-v main closed by engagementwith valve seat `18, or will be moved above the valve seat into theinterior of the upper portion 7 ofttlie valve casing. The disk-likemovable valve member 19 is freely rotatable at all times about its ownaxis so that it may sea-t correctly against the valve seat 18, and itwill be held in thisposition by the steam pressurel exi..lv t

in' within Lhe valve casing.

rlhe ree end of the valve lever 10 is forked to engage about the valvestem 22, whereby swinging movement of lever 10 will elfect the raisingor lowering of the movable valve member 19. i The lower arm 25 theforked portion of thelever is provided with a surface 26 `enagingbeneath the stem 22 to lift the valve member, this surface.terminatingin a shouldered recess 2'? in which the steam is engagedwhen the valve member is completely raised (as shown in dotted lines lh'2), whereby the valve is locked in openedposition. The weight of themovable valve member resting 11i this shouldered re-` cess 27 vwillnormally prevent downward movement of the valve lever 10. However, thevalve lever 1G may be positively swung downwardly when power is appliedto theV rock-shaft 11 (as hereinafter described), so that the recess2will be drawn away from the stem 22 andfpermit the lever and movablevalve member to be lowered. it this time, the upper curved arm 28 ofthefork of the lever will engage the upper surface of valve stein 22andpositively push the movable valve member 19 down into its valve closing'position. The upwardly curved surface 29 of this arm 28 permits movementof the valve stem 22 out of tlie'recess 2?, and

will at all positions in the swinging' movement ofV lever 10 so engagethe stem 22 as to urge same vertically downward.

A bellcrank lever 39 is keyed on the outer end of rock-shaft 11, beingsecured in place by cot-ter `pin 31. The long arm of this lever isadapted to be pivotally joined at 33 with` the connections for,operating the valve from a distance. The other arm 34 of the bellcrankcarries a weight 35 adapted to Vcounter-balance the weight of themovable valve member 19 and the lever 10 so 'that all of the partscarried by the operating shaft 1l will tend `to remain in any positionto which they may be moved.

The removable cap 8, bushing` 6, and bonnet 14, permit the machiningofall interior portions of the valve casing' where same is necessary, andpermits the ready insertion or removal of all interior movable portionsof the valve mechanism.

\ 'lVlien connected in service, "with the car whichcarries this valveserving as one of the interior units of a train, the valve will normallybe in open-position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. A' freepassage of steam will then bepermitted directly through* the alignedpipe sections 1 and 2 and the valve casing` 8. The movable valve member19 will be locked in its elevated position by the en pjagement of thevalve stem 22 in the locking recess 27, there being no material tend-Ult) iso

ne V

ency for the parts to drop from this position since they arecounterbalanced by the weight 35. lf this valve is located. at the rea-rend of a train, .so that it is necessary to close the valve, the partswill be moved to the positions indicated in full lines in the drawings.ln this position, the passage of steam will be completely cut off by thevalve plate Q1 seatedv against `the valve seat 18. The movable valvemember is held securely in this position by the steam pressure Withinthe valve casing. If it is desired to bleed the valve, that is permitthecontinual passage ot a. small flow of steam therethrough, the valvemechanism is manipulated to slightly raise the movable valve member sothat some one of the bleeding ports 24 Will be uncovered. Since thecircular valve member l) is freely rotatable Within the valve casing, itmay assume any positionof angular adjustment against the valve seat 18,but some one of the bleeding ports 24 Will always be so positioned thatit will be uncovered when the movable valve member isslightly raisedfrom the completely closed position snorvn in the drawings. The movablevalve member Will remain indefinitely in this bleeding position, due tothe friction of the parts, and due tothe fact that the movable parts areall counterbalanced.v

l claim:

l. lin end train pipe valve comprising a easing, a valve seat therein.,a disk-shaped valve member cooperating with the valve scat and bodilymovable edgewvise into or out ot valve closingposition, the valve memberbeing` freely rotatable about its o'ivn axis. there being a plurality ofbleeding ports spaced at intervals through the edge portion of the valvemember, Which ports are all closed by the valve seat'ivhen the valvemember is in complete valve closing position.

2. An end train pipe valve comprising a c sing, a valve seat therein, adisk-shaped valve member cooperating with the valve seat and movableedgevvise into or out of valve closing position, the casing being formedwith guidevvays for the valve member, the valve member being freelyrotatable about its own axis, there being a plurality of bleening portsformeel in the edge portion of the valve member, which ports are allclosed by the valve seat when the valve member is in valve closingposition, but some one of the ports being -opened When the valve memberis moved slightly from valve closing position.

3. l-rn end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve scat therein,a disk-shaped valvemember comprising a pair of parallel circular platesconnected by an axial stem, one of the plates being formed to cooperatewith the valve seat to close the valve, and the other plate beingperforated to permit with the valve seatto close the valve, lthere ybeing a plurality of bleeding ports in this plate which are closed bythe valve seat whenl the valve member is in complete val-ve closingposition, and the other plate being perforated to permit the yfreepassage of ste-am therethrough, means in the casing for guiding thevalve member for edge-Wise movement to or trom a valve closing position,and means loosely engaging the stem for moving the' valve.

An end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve seat therein, avalve member movable inthe easing to or from a valve closing position,bleeding ports in the valve member closed by the valve seatwvhen thevalve member is in complete valve closing position," but one of whichport-s is opened when the valve member is partially movedV from thisvalve closing position,means for moving the valvel member, and means foreounterbalancing the valve member whereby it will remain in partiallyopened position.

6'. An end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve vseat therein,a valve member movable in the casingA to or from av valve closingposition, bleeding ports in the valve member closed by the valve Vseat.when the valve member is in completer valve closing position', but oneof which ports-is opened when the valve member is partially moved fromthisvalve closing position, a rock-shaft pivoted in the casing, a leveron the shaft for moving the valve member, a counterbalance for the valvemember also mounted on the shaft, and means for rocking the shaft.

7. An end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve seat therein, yavalve member movable in the casing to or from saidseat, an operatinglever having a forked end portion engaging a part of the valve member topositively move the member to open or closed positions, one arm of theforkhaving a. locking shoulder which engages the valve member to-holdthe member in open position.

8. An end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve seat therein, avalve member movable vertically in the casing to or from a valve closingposition, the valve member having areduced neck portion, an operatinglever having a forked end engaging about the neck, the lower arm of thefork serving to raise the valve member, and havlllt) lll) ingamerik-engaging recess for holding the valve member in raised position,the upper arm of the fork serving to engage the neck and move the valvemember positively' to closed position.

9. An end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve seat therein, avalve member movable vertically in the ycasing to or from a valveclosing position, the valve member having a reduced neck portion, anoperating lever liavinga forked end engaging about the neck, the lowerarm of the fork serving to raise the valve member, and having aneck-engaging recess for holding the valve member in raised position,the upper arm of the fork being curved so as to engage the neck andpositively move the valve vertically downward to valve closing positionas the lever is swung about its pivot.

10. An end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve seattherein, avalve member movable vertically in the casing to or from a valve closingposition, an operating lever having a forked end portion engaging a partof the valve member to positively move the member to open or closedpositions,` one arm of the fork having a lockingshoulder which engagesthe valve member to hold the member in `open position, and means forYcounterbalancing the Weight of the valve member and .operatingmechanism in any position of adjustment. i l1. `An end train pipe valvecomprising a casing, a valve seat therein, ja valve member movablevertically in the casing to or from a valve closing position, anoperating lever having a forked end portion engaging a part of the valvemember to positively move the member to open or closed positions, onearm of the fork having a locking shoulder which engages the 'valvemember to hold the member in open position, a i'ockeshaft to which thelever is secured, means for rocking the shaft,vand a Weighted levermounted on the otlierplate beiiigyperforated to permit the free passageof steam therethrough, means in the casing for guiding theA valve memberfor edgeu'ise movement to `or from its valve clos` ing position, arockshaft in the casing, a lever secured to the Vshaft and having aforked end engaging about the stem of the movable valve member, one'armof the fork having a stem-engagingrecess for locking the valve member'inopen position, means for rock the shaft, and means secured to thesliaftior counterbalancing the movable parts.`

Y 13. An end train pipe valve comprising a casing, a valve seat therein,a dis`k-like valve member comprising a pair of parallel circular platesconnected by an axial stem, one of the plates being formed to cooperateWith the valve seat to close the valve, there being a plurality ofbleeding ports in this plate which are closed by the valve seat when thevalve member isin complete valve closing position, and the other. platebeing peiforated to permit the free passage of steam therethrough, meansin the casing for guid ing the valve member for edgewise movenient toor` from its valve closing position, a rockshaft in the casing, a leversecured to the shaft and having a forked end engaging about the stem ofthe movable valve member, one ai'm of the fork having a stemengagingrecess for locking the valve member in open position, means for rockingthe shaft, and means secured to the shaft for counterbalancing themovable parts. c

Y EGBERT H. GOLD.

